CJ Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I have noticed several threads getting pulled lately due to the OP's advertising their products or services. In some cases i can understand why as they are trying to flog things that the current traders sell but what about services or products that nobody sells? Recently we had Lauren offering a photography service and today some chap asking about track days. Now, to my mind, both of these could have been of interest / benefit to the members but due to the advertising rules we don't get a chance to find out about them. The chances of someone joining up and going through the procedure of applying and paying a traders fee seem a bit OTT for what might be a very limited opportunity to sell. What do you folks think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_jekyll Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I have noticed several threads getting pulled lately due to the OP's advertising their products or services. In some cases i can understand why as they are trying to flog things that the current traders sell but what about services or products that nobody sells? Recently we had Lauren offering a photography service and today some chap asking about track days. Now, to my mind, both of these could have been of interest / benefit to the members but due to the advertising rules we don't get a chance to find out about them. The chances of someone joining up and going through the procedure of applying and paying a traders fee seem a bit OTT for what might be a very limited opportunity to sell. What do you folks think? i concure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 This could well be a thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Try walking into your local pub, slinging an advert up then walking out. Wouldn't take long for it to be pulled down. Plus, why bother becoming a trader and supporting the club if you don't have to pay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 My feeling is it could seriously open the floodgates. We already have all sorts of people trying to flog their 'services' on here. Sometimes blatantly and sometimes covertly - it can be a minefield, and is rather time consuming to deal with. I feel regarding the photography, I'd rather see Lauren's genuine commitment and enthusiam toward the club first and foremost, before it develops it into a neat and free marketing tool for her photographic services. I suppose some people would inevitably just dip in and out of the club, but purely to make money for themselves. I don't have a downer on her by the way, but I'd like to see a reputation of a member develop and grow in the first instance. Perhaps then some credibility and trust will have been built up...and then perhaps I would part with my money. Except I'd take my own piccies. For free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraDan24 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Ed takes his own piccies for free too, only his are after midnight, and it isnt his camera that is flashing....just saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Making traders make a financial commitment removes a lot of the time wasters just looking to make a fast buck then disappear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I had the link to my website removed and all I wanted was some opinions, but apparently because some traders had a moan up that it was a car based site, it had to go. But to be fair, it cuts out all the Replikit types selling crap kits, Nizam and Horny Devil types breaking Supra's and making some dosh for selling tat, and other services that others are already offering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCK10 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I do agree with what CJ's saying. From my point of view I can't see much harm in posting a link to what they are offering, as it's then our choice whether to use the product or services outside the club. But at the same time, I can understand why Traders wouldn't be happy with it. The current traders on here are paying to advertise their services, and have been for a long time in some cases. Allowing people to advertise for free wouldn't really be fair on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 plus the dispute section would go into overdrive with all the hit and runs , atm it works , you are always going to get the odd mishap that's just how things are , and tbh most are resolved amicably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Mitchell Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Yeah shouldnt be allowed. I pay a good sum of money for a yearly traders spot and i know the bigger companys pay alot more than me. If non of us can offer anything, then go use google or ebay but i dont think its fair to advertise something infront of our noses.... ALOT of it goes on and i just let it go over my head but its not fair and its very disrespectful. Im refering to things people sell and bodywork, but photography shouldnt be any different when they can just apply like the rest of us traders have to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I don't get it. Have the rules changed? Not so long ago I asked this question from an opposing view, ie people advertsing their work or other means of financial gain, I was told (by the Mods) that it was OK as long as it wasn't car related. It's always annoyed me that it seems to be one rule for one and another for the other. It's like jobs for the boys at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 That's where I am coming from Scott. If it is car related and in direct competition of the incumbent traders then I can understand why they should be stopped straight away. But, using the fella today who worked for a company that organised track days as an example, who is he going to hurt by just advertising the fact that it is what he does? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 That's where I am coming from Scott. If it is car related and in direct competition of the incumbent traders then I can understand why they should be stopped straight away. But, using the fella today who worked for a company that organised track days as an example, who is he going to hurt by just advertising the fact that it is what he does? I'm in two minds here as I don't know anything about the guy. Is he already a member of the forum or did he join up solely to punt his wares? If it's the latter then I agree that there is no place for him here. Since I was informed about the reasoning behind allowing some advertising I've not had an issue with it, as long as the people are actually forum members first, and advertisers second. I would always see the latter as a leech on the forum, same with people who do nothing but sell parts & break cars without contributing anything to the community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I don't get it. Have the rules changed? Not so long ago I asked this question from an opposing view, ie people advertsing their work or other means of financial gain, I was told (by the Mods) that it was OK as long as it wasn't car related. It's always annoyed me that it seems to be one rule for one and another for the other. It's like jobs for the boys at times. Lol, you do make me laugh. Look back at all our previous discussions on this, what have I said every single bloody time to you..? Report anything you dont like the look of, but oh no, you dont want to grass somebody up, you just want to complain about it any opportunity you get. In answer to the first more sensible bit of your post, if it is car related it is not allowed to be advertised in signatures. I'm sure thats been said quite clearly before as well. If it is NOT car related it can be put in to people's signatures. Thats also been said before. If somebody does something as a hobby they may be allowed to post up what they do on the understanding that they are not touting for business (which raises the question...why would you post it up..). If it is their primary job then it is not a hobby and they need to look at being a trader. There may be bending of the rules here and there depending on circumstances and potential benefits to members, but not based on whether we like somebody or not. In answer to Colin's first question, and I'm a bit pissed off it was even asked, this club would not be here if it was not for the traders. You think your lifetime membership of £30 is going to pay for this place to even run. We pay £300 a month just for hosting. Thats 10 lifetime members a month. The rate you lot scare off new members we would be bust within 3 months. The traders fees help pay for things like JAE, Suprapod and Llandow. It also allows us to buy tickets up front, usually at the costs of thousands of pounds. Do the maths on Dragonball if you want...40 Eurotunnel tickets at £89 each, and 41 hotel rooms at £130 each. You think I'm going to fund that from my own credit card without knowing theres enough money in the club account to cover it? So lets not go questioning how the trader and hobbyist process works on the forum as we both know its funding certain parts of Dragonball... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I don't get it. Have the rules changed? Not so long ago I asked this question from an opposing view, ie people advertsing their work or other means of financial gain, I was told (by the Mods) that it was OK as long as it wasn't car related. It's always annoyed me that it seems to be one rule for one and another for the other. It's like jobs for the boys at times. I think there's a big difference with someone being on the forum a while, who then puts up a sig regarding their non-automotive business and compare that to someone who appears and within the first few posts blatantly spams their (non-automotive) service. The first is a contributor (hopefully) with some input and credibility - The other: a nobody and a chancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Laugh all you like JB, you have mods using un-authorised traders and have had for some time. Apparently I'm omnipotent though as it's just me that notices. It's not my job to go around reporting thread after thread and member after member, if I feel strongly enough about something I tell the member openly that I don't like what they are doing. I've never done anything any different, I've never been sneaky or tried to hide behind anything when giving my opinion. From there if a mod member sees it and decides to do something about that person or not is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned as I will have said my piece. Have you not noticed that I haven't said anything about anything since the last clarification? Until now of course. There are 2 reasons for this. 1, it's pointless and 2 it's always thrown back in my face that I'm the bad guy doing all the wrongs on the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I think there's a big difference with someone being on the forum a while, who then puts up a sig regarding their non-automotive business and compare that to someone who appears and within the first few posts blatantly spams their (non-automotive) service. The first is a contributor (hopefully) with some input and credibility - The other: a nobody and a chancer. Hence why I posted asking for clarifaction regarding the person in question and making those very points not long after my initial post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 In answer to Colin's first question, and I'm a bit pissed off it was even asked, this club would not be here if it was not for the traders. You think your lifetime membership of £30 is going to pay for this place to even run. We pay £300 a month just for hosting. Thats 10 lifetime members a month. The rate you lot scare off new members we would be bust within 3 months. Hang on JB, I never once said we should not have paid traders. I know full well that they (as well as the members) are the life blood of the forum and nowhere have I suggested that they can be allowed to trade for free. As I said in the initial post, my point was when does an initial post offering a one off service be deemed as advertising and a threat to the regular traders - not "why not let everyone trade for free". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'm in two minds here as I don't know anything about the guy. Is he already a member of the forum or did he join up solely to punt his wares? If it's the latter then I agree that there is no place for him here. Since I was informed about the reasoning behind allowing some advertising I've not had an issue with it, as long as the people are actually forum members first, and advertisers second. I would always see the latter as a leech on the forum, same with people who do nothing but sell parts & break cars without contributing anything to the community. Just in case it was lost due to being the last post in the previous page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Hang on JB, I never once said we should not have paid traders. I know full well that they (as well as the members) are the life blood of the forum and nowhere have I suggested that they can be allowed to trade for free. As I said in the initial post, my point was when does an initial post offering a one off service be deemed as advertising and a threat to the regular traders - not "why not let everyone trade for free". Rock and a hard place...may I refer you to Scott M who sees unauthorised traders everywhere but chooses not to report them as he thinks we see all, when infact the level of drivel posted in this place has caused a number of us to simply stop reading some threads. At what point do we let an obvious trader post what they do? At what point do we stop them and then face the barrage of 'oh but you let me do that for the last 4 months, why stop me now?'. So we try to take the approach that we stop it before it goes any further otherwise we get the moany members saying its favouritism all because we let it go for a while. I'm done with this now as this has pissed me off no end, especially Scott and his usual crap excuses for not reporting what he sees as the crime of the century where we probably dont even see it. Sometimes this forum makes me wonder why we bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleapple Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I would like to throw my support (for what its worth) behind Branners on this one. The mods management of traders and people wanting so sell/provide services not only protects the finances of the club but also protects the members. There have been numerous times when 'respected' members of the forum (or at least members with a high post count) start touting/offering services and then go AWOL with money or having sent naff goods. Just look at the dispute threads of do a search for guys that have recently been kicked. The idea of letting any idiot tout their wares scares me half to death. Keep up the good work guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 No problem, I'll just go back to not mentioning it again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Anyone want to buy any carpets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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